President Rodrigo Duterte defended SEA games 2019 P50-M cauldron on Tuesday, saying the government bought the national artist’s mind and creative idea.
“Walang extravagance diyan (There is no extravagance there),” the Duterte told Palace reporters in a press conference at Palace’s Heroes Hall late Tuesday night.
The P50-M SEA Games 2019 cauldron was by the late National Artist for Architecture, Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa.
Duterte explained the cauldron’s high value is justified by the “product of the mind” of the creator.
“You know, there can never be corruption in that situation because you commissioned a national artist. Si Mañosa was commissioned by the government to create ‘yung nakita mo ‘yung kaldero ngayon (that cauldron). It is a product of the mind. You cannot estimate how much nalugi ka (your losses) because it is the rendition of the mind of the creator,” Duterte said.
Duterte said the government bought the national artist’s “mind” and creativity
“You know, there can never be corruption in that situation because you commissioned a national artist. Si Mañosa was commissioned by the government to create ‘yung nakita mo ‘yung kaldero ngayon (that cauldron). It is a product of the mind. You cannot estimate how much nalugi ka (your losses) because it is the rendition of the mind of the creator,” he said.
“Doon kontrata. Ito binili mo ang utak niya. Kung pumayag ka sa utak niya, wala kayong usapan na kobrahan ko kayo ng ganun (It’s a contract. You paid him for using his idea. When you agreed to use his creative mind, you don’t have an agreement to get a share from it),” Duterte added.